Chewy, caramel-like dates, the best for snacks and smoothies, are making a comeback as a healthy snack and sweetener strong in soluble and insoluble fiber and antioxidants.
For those who want to prolong the shelf life of nature's most exquisite candy or thicken their post-workout smoothies, you may freeze dates for a year.
Line a sheet pan with parchment paper to freeze dates. Leave a little space between clean, pitted dates on the paper to prevent them from clinging together and making work difficult.
Place the pan in the freezer for several hours to freeze the dates. Return the frozen dates to the freezer in labeled zip-top bags (squeezing out extra air), vacuumed bags, or airtight containers.
Instead of thawing at room temperature, let frozen dates thaw slowly in the fridge for several hours or overnight for optimal texture.
Even when properly frozen, thawed dates will be squishier and softer than fresh ones, but this shouldn't be a problem if you're breaking them up to mix them in overnight oats or make the perfect savory-sweet toast spread.
Most pitted dates in their original packaging can last two months in the pantry and six months in the fridge at room temperature if kept cool and dark.
However, freezing dates is great for smoothies, chocolate peanut butter date bark, date and walnut bread, and homemade date syrup.
However, Smith chose O'Neal due to his 1990s and early 2000s domination. O'Neal won four titles, including three straight with the Lakers from 2000-02.